News Article

Super Bowl Player Chilling with Pokémon Before the Big Game

Broncos linebacker Nate Irving is playing up to 3 hours of Pokémon a night up to the Super Bowl

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Denver Broncos linebacker Nate Irving will be spending this Sunday evening trying to smash himself through the Seattle Seahawks' offence at the Super Bowl. Before the game, however, while his teammates are spending their downtime exploring all the host city of New York has to offer, Irving told the Wall Street Journal's Stu Woo that he'll be tending to his other, virtual team:

According to Woo's story, 25-year-old Irving describes himself as an introvert. He grew up collecting Pokémon cards and takes his Nintendo handheld (the story does not specify which one) with him to keep up with his trainerly duties on planes and buses. He also reportedly has a commitment to playing Call of Duty with an old college friend every Tuesday morning on his day off.

Irving said he will try to hide his playing from his teammates while travelling. They sometimes poke fun at him for it and some other not-so-linebackerish behaviours — such as singing and dancing by himself — but he said he ultimately doesn't mind:

I know not too many people are into the things I'm into. I just embrace that and I enjoy it.

Irving's gaming habits don't seem to have hurt his performance. According to Woo, he has a career record 41 tackles this year, plus he's one game away from a Super Bowl ring. Now if they only asked the important questions, like which Pokémon he uses...

As a child, Tim once spent an entire month staring longingly at a copy of Kirby's Dream Land his parents had kept atop the refrigerator until he could play it on an upcoming road trip. That month would change his life forever.

@K-Gamer If you haven't tried Pokemon yet, NOW is the time to get into it. The thing about Pokemon is that, Its diverse. Not just pokemon wise but strategy wise and It makes you think, because you're not just trying to shoot someone's head off or spam hyperbeam and expect to win; You have to THINK, and its healthy for you. This is the start of a new gen; a perfect opportunity to become a fan. Honestly, Pokemon is a beautiful thing that sets apart from other turn-based RPGs because of its depth. Oh and you should definitely try Animal Crossing. I used not be interested in the series but I tried New Leaf, BAM! Hooked and Addicted all the way.

@Ryno
Ah, we meet again! 😁 I'm expecting a better outcome for me on Sunday than the Thunder/Heat 2012 NBA Finals! Good luck to both our teams (but, more to mine 😉). Oh yeah, I love that this is an old-school AFC West showdown. Reminds me of John Elway vs. Brian Bosworth (Bosmouth, lol) in the late 80s! There's a little more than a division title at stake this time!!!

Great article, until I read this: "Irving's gaming habits don't seem to have hurt his performance". I don't likethe insinuation, why would his gaming remotely have any affect on his ability to play sports?

You know what? Good for him. He doesn't get sucked into the same trap a lot of sports types and celebs in general do. Big-head-itis. He's staying away from the drugs, boose, bimbos and other trash that could drag him down. I think of it this way. $40 for a Pokemon game and whatever for whatever system versus thousands or millions dribbled into superficial consumables (food) and crap. All that money saved he can store for the day he wears out or breaks something and his career is over. How often do we see burn out celebrity types and sports people who act like tools and end up broke having to sign stuff and do menial garbage just to get by? Too many that's for sure.

@Silent I just got into Pokemon and Animal Crossing with their 3DS installments. I did play Pokemon when I was younger but I seemed to like it better this time. Those were the two Nintendo series I played the least before I played these games.

He's just leveling up to learn Double Edge. Also, he needs to build up BP to buy the Ability Capsule so that he can have the Reckless Ability. A STAB Reckless Double Edge with max Attack EVs and a Base Attack of a Slowking would surely win the Seahawks the game. It's just a shame that he doesn't know his IVs. Someone should buy this guy a train ticket to Kiloude City!

Nintendo should capitalize on this. make advertising targeting +15 pokemon gamers. use celebrities that are really fans of the game and not just actors. if people as "cool" and "sucessful" as him do not feel shame telling other people that he loves to play pkmn games, why should i? because lets be honest, most of teens and adults that like pokemon do not play it on the street or buy the games because they feel embarrasment.